Internal combustion engine

ABSTRACT

An internal combustion engine in which a casing provides an internal cavity containing a piston block which moves in reciprocal motion and wherein such reciprocal motion is translated to rotary drive action through the engagement of an eccentric section of a drive shaft with an opening in the piston block.

United States Patent [191 Waters 1 1 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE [76] Inventor: Robert W. Waters, 301 S. Harrison St., Villa Park, 111. 60181 [22] Filed: Sept. 4, I973 [21] Appl. No.: 394,059

[52] U.S. Cl 123/45 R; 123/1; 123/801;

123/845; 123/193 PC; 123/50 R; 418/61 [51] Int. Cl. F02b 53/00 [58] Field of Search 123/45, 45 R, 1, 8.01,

123/8.45,193 PC, 197 A, 197 R, 52 R, 52 A, 60 R, 50 R, 50 A, 42, 43 R, 74 R, 74 A, 73 R, 73 A; 418/61, 54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,780,443 11/1930 Schumann 123/811 1,864,699 6/1932 Varley 418/54 June 17,1975

3,464,395 9/1969 Kelly 123/845 3,630,178 12/1971 Erickson 123/42 3,703,344 1 1/1972 Reitter 123/8.45

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7 453,386 ll/1949 Italy 123/1 33,788 9/1949 Poland 418/61 A Primary Examiner-Wendell E. Burns Attorney, Agent, or FirmCarl C. Batz [57] ABSTRACT An internal combustion engine in which a casing provides an internal cavity containing a piston block which moves in reciprocal motion and wherein such reciprocal motion is translated to rotary drive action through the engagement of an eccentric section of a drive shaft with an opening in the piston block.

17 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE This invention relates generally to an internal combustion engine and more particularly to such an engine having a reciprocating piston and in which the reciprocating motion of the piston is translated to rotary movement of a drive shaft.

BACKGROUND Engines employing reciprocating pistons have long been known and in the usual reciprocating type of engine the pistons move in cylinders and have piston rods which pivotally connect the pistons with the drive shaft. While engines so constructed have served extremely well, they do have limitations and disadvantages which I would like to avoid. Such engines have definite limitations as to size and speed and are not easily designed to fit into a small space and yet yield substantial power. Further they are not easily designed to run at high speeds without producing unwanted vibrations.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide such an engine with a reciprocating piston which is extremely simple of construction and operation and can be produced at small cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide an en gine which may be small in size and yet capable of yielding substantial power. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an engine of small size, but which has a relatively large piston displacement.

Another object is to provide such an engine which has a minimum of vibration and which is capable of running quietly, even at high speeds.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is the front side view in elevation of the improved engine;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in elevation, the section being taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in elevation, the section being taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in elevation, the section being taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

As illustrated, the improved engine includes a casing A which includes top 10, a bottom 11, front side 12, rear side 13 and ends 14 and 15. Within the casing is the cavity 16. As illustrated, the casing A and also the cavity 16 is rectangular in both horizontal and vertical sections.

Within casing A is the piston block B which also is rectangular in both horizontal and vertical sections. The dimensions of this block will be more precisely explained later in this description, but it may be noted at this time that the side edges of the piston block B fit up to the sides 12 and 13 of the casing and, as appears more clearly from FIG. 2, this block may slide along sides 12 and 13 as the block is moved upwardly or downwardly within the casing.

The engine, as illustrated, has two drive shafts designated C and C Shaft C, (see FIG. 2) is rotatably mounted in the casing and extends through the opening 17 in side 12 and the opening 18 in side 13. Thus shaft C is rotatable about its own horizontal axis and is held in position by its engagement with the openings 17 and 18 in the side walls of the casing. The central section of shaft C which extends within the casing cavity 16, is cylindrical but eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft. FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the displacement d between the rotational axis of the shaft 19 and the longitudinal axis 19a of the cylindrical central section 20 of the shaft C The action of section 20 is parallel with but displaced from the rotational axis 19 of the shaft C Section 20 of shaft C extends within the cylindrical opening 21 in the piston block B. Opening 21 is fitted with the needle bearings 22, and the shaft section 20 rolls inside these bearings.

Keyed to shaft C in front of casing A is counterbalancing weight 25. As shown in the drawings, this weight is cylindrical in form having its axis parallel with but displaced from the axis 19 of the shaft, the displacement being on the side of the shaft axis which is opposite the side of displacement of the axis and in the same plane as axes 19 and 19a.

A similar counterbalancing weight 25a is keyed to shaft C on the back side of casing A. Counterbalancing weight 25a is desirably the same size, shape and weight as counterbalancing weight 25 and is positioned with its axis in the same relationship with axis 19 as in the counterbalancing weight 25. Preferably counterbalancing weight 25 is located on shaft C, at the same distance behind casing A as the counterbalancing weight 25a is in front of the casing. The mass of counterbalancing 2., and 25a and the displacement of their axes from the axis of the shaft are selected so that the total thrust produced by both of the counterbalancing weights at their displacements from the axis of the shaft will be equal and opposite to the thrust produced due to the displacement of the axis of the eccentric section 20 from the rotational axis of the shaft C In this way a substantially perfect balance is obtained which eliminates vibration due to the rotation of the eccentric shaft section.

On reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 it will be seen that the shaft C is located nearer to the right hand end of the casing and another shaft C is located nearer the left hand end of the casing, the shafts C and C being suitably spaced apart. Shaft C is similar to shaft C being journaled in openings in the front and back sides of the casing and having a cylindrical center section 20a like section 20 of shaft C section 200 being eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of shaft C The piston block B is provided with the opening 21a and bearings 22a, and the shaft section 20a extends through the openings 21a and rolls within the needle bearings 22a. Keyed to shaft C are counter weights 26 in front and 26a in back of the casing, these counter weights being similar to and mounted in the same way as already described with respect to counter weights 25 and 25a on shaft C,.

A fly wheel 27 is secured to the back of shaft C,. On front side of the casing and between shafts C and C is a post 28, and rotatably mounted on this post is a gear 29. Gear 29 is an idler gear engaging on its one side the gear 30 which is secured to the front end of shaft C and engaging on its other side the gear 31 which is secured to the front end of shaft C,. This gearing causes shafts C, and C to rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and causes the shaft C and C to be held in synchronism.

The presence of the piston block B with the cavity 16 provided by the casing A creates a fuel intake chamber in this cavity below the piston block which in the drawings is designated 35. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4 there is an opening 36 in the bottom of the casing which may be considered an extension of the intake chamber. A tube 37 has its interior connected with opening 36 and connects this chamber with the carburetor 38 which serves as a source of suitable fuel. Located in the tube 37 is the valve 39 which, as shown, is of the type having a spring'pressed stem, but which may also be reed type of valve which readily accomodates high speeds. It will be understood that when the piston block B moves upwardly within casing A this acts to draw fuel from the carburetor through tube 37, past valve 39 and into the inlet chamber of the casing.

Within the casing cavity and above the piston block is the combustion chamber 40. The spark plug 41 extends through the top of the casing and has its ignition points within the combustion chamber. The front and rear casing sides 12 and 13 enclose the sides of chamber 40, but the end enclosures are provided by a pair of plates 42 and 42a. The right hand end of the chamber (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided by the plate 42 which extends downwardly through the slot 43 in the top of the casing and has its lower edge resting on the top surface of one end of piston block B. The front and back vertical edges of plate 42 may engage fitted channels in sides 12 and 13 so as to permit upward and downward movement of the plate with respect to the casing. At the top of plate 42 is an extension 44 which engages the compression spring 45. The top of compression spring 45 is held by the cap 46 which is attached to the top of the casing.

A similar plate 42a extends through the slot 43a at the left hand end of the casing and is similarly arranged with its bottom edge riding on top the left hand end portion of piston block B and having a spring 45a and cap 46a. The combustion chamber, therefore, is bounded on top by the casing to 10, on the bottom by the top of piston block B, on its sides by the casing sides 12 and 13, and on its ends by plates 42 and 42a. It will be understood that the upward stroke of the piston block produces compression in the combustion chamber, and that this takes place simultaneously with the intake of fuel into the fuel intake chamber.

There is on shaft C a cam device41, which acting with suitable circuit making and breaking apparatus, connects a source of electrical voltage with the spark plug 41 when the piston block has moved substantially to its highest position, thus to produce a spark which ignites fuel then under compression in chamber 40.

There is a by-pass channel 50 on the inner surface of the casing side 13 which connects the lower portion of the inlet chamber with the lower portion of the combustion chamber. This connection takes place when the piston block descends to approximately itslowest position so that the upper outlet of the channel opens above the top of the piston block.

A series of exhaust ports 51 are provided in the front casing wall 12 and these ports are connected with the combustion chamber when the piston block descends to about its lowest position. These ports are connected together on the exterior of casing by the exhaust pipe 52.

OPERATION Starting with the engine assembled and the piston block in its lowermost position as shown in the drawings, and assuming clockwise rotation of the shafts C and C as seen from the front of the engine, sections 20 and 20a of the shafts rotate within their respective openings in the piston block with their axes moving toward the left end and upwardly with respect to the casing, which causes the piston block to move toward the left and upwardly. The piston block continues in this motion until the axes of sections 20 and 20a are on a horizontal level with the axes of the respective shafts after which the sections 20 and 20a, and also the piston block, continues upward movement, but moves toward the right. When the axes of sections 20 and 200 are directly over the axes of shafts C and C the piston then begins to move downwardly while continuing its movement to the right; after the axes of the sections 20 and 20a are horizontally even with the axes of the shafts the piston continues its downward movement, but moves toward the left of the casing, until the piston reaches the position illustrated in the drawings.

When the engine starts its cycle, as above recited, the upward movement of the piston block draws fuel from the carburetor into the fuel input chamber and this continues until the piston block has reached its highest position. As seen in FIG. 3 the fuel in vaporous form, may extend in the space below the piston block and also in the space between the ends of the piston block and the casing, up to the plates 42 and 42a, but may not enter the combustion chamber because of these plates. As the piston block moves upwardly to the left and to the right, the plates 42 and 42a move up and down while being pressed by the compression springs 45 and 45a; and at the same time their lower edges slide along the top surface of the piston block. Also, it will be observed that after the piston block moves upwardly from its position illustrated to the extent the exhaust ports 51 are out of the register with the combustion chamber it starts compressing any fuel in the combustion chamber and continues this until it reaches its uppermost position at which time ignition occurs and the piston block starts moving downwardly and continues downward movement while moving also first to the right and then to the left. When the piston block has moved downwardly to cause the ports 51 to register with the compression chamber, the spent fuel within the compression chamber is exhausted through the ports 51 and pipe 52.

Also when the piston block is moving downwardly it is compressing the fuel which has previously been drawn into the input chamber and when the piston block has so descended as to bring the combustion chamber into register with the upper end of the by-pass channel 50 the fuel from the input chamber will be expelled through this by-pass channel into the combustion chamber.

In the operation of the engine the piston block moves in reciprocating motion within the casing cavity, and through the engagement of the eccentric sections of shafts C and C with corresponding openings in the piston block this reciprocal motion of the piston block is translated into rotary motion of the shaft. Also through the gearing connection between the shafts, the

shafts are caused to rotate at the same speed and be synchronized in movement so that when the left end portion of the piston block is in its uppermost position the right hand end portion of this block will also be at its uppermost position, and so on, throughout the cycle.

On reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings it will be clear that operation of the engine, as above described, makes certain requirements on the size of the piston block with respect to the size of the casing cavity. The length of the piston block must be shorter than the length of the cavity by at least twice the displacement of the axis of section from the axis of shaft C similarly the depth of piston block B must be such as to leave some clearance for the combustion and input chambers in excess of twice the axial displacement of the eccentric section 20.

Also the plate 42 must be located inwardly from the end of the piston block B by a distance equal to at least 2d, and similarly the plate 42a must be located inwardly of the left end of piston block B by a distance equal at least to a distance of 2d, so that the ends of the block will not slide out of engagement with these plates as the block moves laterally in the course of the operation of the engine.

Although not mentioned in the foregoing discussion, lubrication of the improved engine may be provided by incorporation of a lubricant in the fuel mixture. The fuel may suitably be gasoline or other hydrocarbon fuel capable of vaporizing on carboration.

Also in the illustrations and the foregoing discussion the engine is assumed to be running idly, but a load may be connected by engagement with either gears or 31, or may be connected in any suitable way with either shaft C or C or both.

Further, in theillustrations and in the foregoing description the engine has been shown setting on one side as a base, and we have referred to right, left, up, down, horizontal and vertical for purposes of explanation. It should be understood that such directions are relative only to each other, and that the engine may be inverted or placed at any angle as may be desired and the directions indicated as upward, downward, etc. herein contained will be thought of as changed to accomodate the change in the position of the engine.

Only one embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, but it is understood that the invention may take many forms, and many changes may be made in accordance with the skill of this art without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a casing having front and back sides and providing a cavity therein, a piston block in said cavity and extending between said sides, a shaft mounted in said sides for rotating about a horizontal axis, said shaft having a cylindrical portion whose axis is displaced from the axis of said shaft, a cylindrical opening in said piston block, said cylindrical portion of said shaft entending within said opening and being rotatable therein whereby to couple rotation of said shaft about its axis with reciprocating vertical movement of said piston block, a fuel intake chamber in said cavity below said piston block whereby said intake chamber is expanded upon upward movement of said piston block, a source of fuel, and valve means permitting intake of fuel from said source into said chamber when said chamber is expanded.

2. An engine as set forth in claim 1 which includes a combustion chamber in said cavity above said piston block whereby upon expansion of said combustion chamber said block may move downwardly to produce a rotary motion of said shaft.

3. An engine as set forth in claim 2 including an exhaust port communicating with said combustion chamber when said piston block has moved downwardly to a predetermined position.

4. An engine as set forth in claim 3 including conduit means for passing fuel from said intake chamber when said piston block has moved downwardly to a predetermined position.

5. An engine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said conduit means is effective at a time said exhaust port communicates with said combustion chamber.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a casing having front and back sides and providing a cavity therein, a

piston block in said cavity and extending between said sides, a shaft mounted in said sides for rotating about a horizontal axis, said shaft having a cylindrical portion whose. axis is displaced from the axis of said shaft, a cylindrical opening in said piston block, said cylindrical portion of said shaft extending within said opening and being rotatable therein whereby to couple rotation of said shaft about its axis with reciprocating vertical movement of said piston block, said piston block having a flat area on its top side, a pair of spaced end plates extending downwardly from said casing into said cavity and having their lowere edges engaging said area and slidable thereon, said casing, plates and flat area providing between said plates a combustion chamber, said plates being vertically moveable to maintain engagement with said area as said block moves downwardly and said chamber expands.

7. An engine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said casing has slots through which said plates extend into said cavity.

8. An engine as set forth in claim 7 including spring means for urging said plates downwardly to maintain the lower edges resiliently in contact with said area as said block moves up and down.

9. An engine as set forth in claim 6 including means for exhausting said gases from said chamber when said block has descended to a predetermined position and means for admitting fuel into said chamber when said block has descended to a predetermined position.

10. An engine as set forth in claim 9 in which the position of said block at which said admitting means is operable is the same as the position of said block at which said exhaust is operable.

1 1. An engine as set forth in claim 6 including a second shaft spaced from and parallel with said first mentioned shaft and mounted in said casing for rotation about its horizontal axis, said second shaft having a cylindrical section whose axis is displaced from the axis of said second shaft, a second cylindrical opening in said block spaced from said first mentioned opening, said section of said second shaft extending in said second opening and being rotatable therein whereby to couple rotation of said second shaft about its axis with reciprocal movement of said piston block.

12. An engine as set forth in claim 6 including means for coupling said shafts to synchronize the movement of said shafts to maintain the said flat area in a constant attitude with respect to said plates.

13. An engine as set forth in claim 12 wherein said coupling means includes a gear on said first mentioned shaft, a gear on said second mentioned shaft, and a third gear in engagement with both of said gears.

14. In an internal combustion engine a casing having front and back sides and providing a cavity therein, a piston block in said cavity and extending between said sides, a shaft mounted in said sides for rotating about a horizontal axis, said shaft having a cylindrical portion whose axis is displaced from the axis of said shaft,a cylindrical opening in said piston block, said cylindrical portion of said shaft extending within said opening and being rotatable therein whereby to couple rotation of said shaft about its axis with reciprocating vertical movement of said piston block, a combustion chamber within said cavity and above said piston block, a means for passing fuel into said chamber when said piston block is at a low position within said cavity, whereby said chamber is compressed when said piston block next moves upwardly, and conduit means operable after the next movement of the piston block downwardly to a predetermined position for passing spent gases from said chamber.

15. An engine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said chamber is bounded on its top and sides by said casing, on its bottom by the top of said piston block and on its ends by a pair of plates, said plates being in slidable engagement with said piston block.

16. An engine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said chamber is rectangular in its horizontal cross section.

17, An engine as set forth in claim 6 including a counterweight secured to said shaft and in a position to balance the eccentric portion of said shaft. 

1. In an internal combustion engine, a casing having front and back sides and providing a cavity therein, a piston block in said cavity and extending between said sides, a shaft mounted in said sides for rotating about a horizontal axis, said shaft having a cylindrical portion whose axis is displaced from the axis of said shaft, a cylindrical opening in said piston block, said cylindrical portion of said shaft entending within said opening and being rotatable therein whereby to couple rotation of said shaft about its axis with reciprocating vertical movement of said piston block, a fuel intake chamber in said cavity below said piston block whereby said intake chamber is expanded upon upward movement of said piston block, a source of fuel, and valve means permitting intake of fuel from said source into said chamber when said chamber is expanded.
 2. An engine as set forth in claim 1 which includes a combustion chamber in said cavity above said piston block whereby upon expansion of said combustion chamber said block may move downwardly to produce a rotary motion of said shaft.
 3. An engine as set forth in claim 2 including an exhaust port communicating with said combustion chamber when said piston block has moved downwardly to a predetermined position.
 4. An engine as set forth in claim 3 including conduit means for passing fuel from said intake chamber when said piston block has moved downwardly to a predetermined position.
 5. An engine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said conduit means is effective at a time said exhaust port communicates with said combustion chamber.
 6. In an internal combustion engine, a casing having front and back sides and providing a cavity therein, a piston block in said cavity and extending between said sides, a shaft mounted in said sides for rotating about a horizontal axis, said shaft having a cylindrical portion whose axis is displaced from the axis of said shaft, a cylindrical opening in said piston block, said cylindrical portion of said shaft extending within said opening and being rotatable therein whereby to couple rotation of said shaft about its axis with reciprocating vertical movement of said piston block, said piston block having a flat area on its top side, a pair of spaced end plates extending downwardly from said casing into said cavity and having their lowere edges engaging said area and slidable thereon, said casing, plates and flat area providing between said plates a combustion chamber, said plates being vertically moveable to maintain engagement with said area as said block moves downwardly and said chamber expands.
 7. An engine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said casing has slots through which said plates extend into said cavity.
 8. An engine as set forth in claim 7 including spring means for urging said plates downwardly to maintain the lower edges resiliently in contact with said area as said block moves up and down.
 9. An engine as set forth in claim 6 including means for exhausting said gases from said chamber when said block has descended to a predetermined position and means for admitting fuel into said chamber when said block has descended to a predetermined position.
 10. An engine as set forth in claim 9 in which the position of said block at which said admitting means is operable is the same as the position of said block at which said exhaust is operable.
 11. An engine as set forth in claim 6 including a second shaft spaced from and parallel with said first mentioned shaft and mounted in said casing for rotation about its horizontal axis, said second shaft having a cylindrical section whose axis is displaced from the axis of said second shaft, a second cylindrical opening in said block spaced from said first mentioned opening, said section of said second shaft extending in said second opening and being rotatable therein whereby to couple rotation of said second shaft about its axis with reciprocal movement of said piston block.
 12. An engine as set forth in claim 6 including means for coupling said shafts to synchronize the movement of said shafts to maintain the said flat area in a constant attitude with respect to said plates.
 13. An engine as set forth in claim 12 wherein said coupling means includes a gear on said first mentioned shaft, a gear on said second mentioned shaft, and a third gear in engagement with both of said gears.
 14. In an internal combustion engine a casing having front and back sides and providing a cavity therein, a piston block in said cavity and extending between said sides, a shaft mounted in said sides for rotating about a horizontal axis, said shaft having a cylindrical portion whose axis is displaced from the axis of said shaft, a cylindrical opening in said piston block, said cylindrical portion of said shaft extending within said opening and being rotatable therein whereby to couple rotation of said shaft about its axis with reciprocating vertical movement of said piston block, a combustion chamber within said cavity and above said piston block, a means for passing fuel into said chamber when said piston block is at a low position within said cavity, whereby said chamber is compressed when said piston block next moves upwardly, and conduit means operable after the next movement of the piston block downwardly to a predetermined position for passing spent gases from said chamber.
 15. An engine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said chamber is bounded on its top and sides by said casing, on its bottom by the top of said piston block and on its ends by a pair of plates, said plates being in slidable engagement with said piston block.
 16. An engine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said chamber is rectangular in its horizontal cross section.
 17. An engine as set forth in claim 6 including a counterweight secured to said shaft and in a position to balance the eccentric portion of said shaft. 